A NEW REVOLUTION IS BREWING IN THE MIDST OF THIS PANDEMIC THAT CAN ALTER THE COURSE OF MANUFACTURING. HERE'S HOW.
What I am writing about now has the potential to alter how we make & design things. It also has the potential to speed out our tech ambitions and development to a whole new level. 3D Printing was developed in the 1980's by Chuck Hull's 3D Systems. However it was used till now only to make models & prototypes. But recent innovations have been so ground breaking that their impact transcends any particular sector of the economy.
I am no science geek. However, I do have some knowledge on economics so I shall focus more on that part today.
Thus, here are some sectors which can be revolutionised due to 3D printing:
SPACE EXPLORATION
A company called "RELATIVITY" has been making steady progress on developing a rocket which is completely manufactured by 3D printers. Whats more, they claim to make a fully functional one in only 9 days in comparison to 18 months in which SpaceX can make a Falcon 1. Thus, there is a tremendous gap in the tenure of production cycle.
AUTOMOBILE
3D printing technology used to be only a prototyping tool – and obviously, it still is. But now it’s also starting to be used in car manufacturing. You read it right, we can now build cars using 3D printing. Companies like Volkswagen & Bugatti are already using this technology to make smaller parts.
FASHION
Fast Fashion has emerged as a major change in recent times. 3D printing can help companies like ZARA and H&M whose sales are driven by fast fashion. They can create new designs quickly & manufacture them using 3D printers. Then they can sample sell them in a nearby store,. Based on sales data, they can mass produce a hit design through traditional manufacturing!
KINGS OF ADAPTATION
MEDICAL SCIENCE
Perhaps more importantly, 3D printers can cause a stir in the field of medical science. It helps to customize prosthetic limbs as well as braces on a client to client basis. It can also be used in bone reconstruction and organ replacement..
PRACTICAL BENEFITS.
It can be extremely useful in products which need customization and changes as per the needs of the consumer. Example is braces for teeth or car interior for a high end customer like buyer of a Rolls Royce or Rolex.
The production cycle for a product manufactured by 3D printers is relatively small. Example is a housing company,ICON which can build sturdy and long lasting houses within 24 hours!
CONSTRUCTION OF VULCAN 2- AN ICON HOME
As there is no need to make major changes in production cycle as required in assembly method, adapting to changes like producing new models is very easy & does not increase the cost much.
It has tremendous scope in production of complex products like a fake lung or a microprocessor.
MAJOR DISADVANTAGES:
The principle of economics of scale i.e. more production= less cost per unit does not apply here. So it can be an expensive endeavor
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The stability, durability & robustness of 3D printed products is a major conundrum.
The larger the product, the more difficult it is to print.
Extreme evolution in this sphere can lead to product piracy i.e. people can get product designs & print them. This can also lead to industrial espionage.Example is the knockoff products of famous brands made in China.
TODAY'S ARTICLE WAS A BIT OFFBEAT. BUT I HOPE YOU GAINED SOME INSIGHT. STAY SAFE DEAR READERS.
CHEERS!
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